Shanghai Noon

A clumsy imperial guard named Chon Wang follows Princess Pei Pei from the Forbidden City after she is kidnapped and taken across the Pacific. He trails her into the rough-and-tumble American West, where language and customs are as foreign as the desert. There he runs into Roy O'Bannon, a smooth-talking outlaw who's more interested in easy money than heroics. The mismatched pair form an uneasy partnership to rescue the princess, mixing martial arts, shootouts, and slapstick as they chase leads, outwit rivals, and learn to work together without giving away surprises about the ending.

Directed by Tom Dey and created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the film hit theaters in 2000 and pairs Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, and Lucy Liu in key roles.

The movie did well with audiences, translating its broad appeal into healthy box office returns that helped it become one of the more visible action-comedies of the year.

Over time Shanghai Noon helped popularize a mash-up of martial arts and western motifs, and it highlighted the chemistry between Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson. Its playful tone and physical comedy showed Hollywood that East-meets-West stories could work in a mainstream, family-friendly package.

Critical response was generally positive for what it aimed to be, reflected in a 6.415/10 vote average from 2,685 voters, with many praising the comic pairing and inventive fight choreography. Themes include unlikely friendship, cultural clash treated with humor, and the contrast between honor and opportunism. It keeps things light, focuses on set-piece action and comic timing, and favors a crowd-pleasing rhythm over gritty realism.